Wichita eagle., 1887-03-27

streets would be marvel. The points Of
the compass were regarded in laying out
Wichita The principal streets are Main
street, running north and south, and Doug.
las avenue. running east and west. The
other streets are numbered from these.
Any and all streets in Wichita are wider
than Broadway, New York, and the roads
are naturally good. The soil is sandy. and
SO mud Is Ut short duration. There are
good roa IS here, consequently, the year
round.
The city is divided into five wards.
though q redivision is talked of. The
Fifth ward is West Wichita. across the
Arkansas. Wichita is at the confluence of
the Big and Little Arkansas, 80 it has
commercial facilities in addition to its
other advantages Six bridges across the
Arkansas, and four more are being con-
tracfed for, and three across the Little
Arkansas. 1t has two city parks, the
American District telegraph, fine water
works. two public libraries, five hotels and
restaurants. with others in the process of
erection. The police force and fire depart
ment are well organized and efficient The
educational advantages of Wichita will
commend 1t to all eastern people. There
are seven brick school buildings and two
frame ones. employing forty seven teachers
and superintendent, making the monthly
expense for teachers about two thousand
five hundred dollars. There is q seating ca
pacity for 4, 600 pupils, but the needs of the
city are greater than the accommodations,
and three more room buildings are to be
erected. Garfield University, of the Chris
tlan denomination, is being RAPIDLY COM
pleied and will be ready TOR work in the
fall. Jndson University. Baptist institu-
ton, is just begun. The Quakers are rap
idly pushing the John Bright University
The Presby'erians have the Lewis Acade-
my, and will soon build a college. The
Catholics have two schools, Brothers aud
Sisters. The Congregaiionalists are
building Paramount College. and the
Dutch Reformed, Wichita University. Can
any eastern city rival that for educational
facililies7 That is, with a similar popnla-
ton. 1t is noteworthy fact that this city
has donated. in private subscriptions. over
sc. O0O, COO. for colleges, during the past
year. These donations consist of valuab Q
real estate and money. which furnish.
Inside bnilding expenses, good
.i.ed endowment fund. OF CHURCHES
luere are no lack The Methodists have
three; the Baptists, two; the Chris
tians two. with four more to be built; the
Lutherans are just beginning church, and
also the Dutch Reformed; the Quakers
have no church edifice, but the society is q
strong one here. and a building is ques-
ton of only short time The Congrega.
tionalsts have three buildings: the Episco-
palians one, the Catholics one and the
Presbyterlans three This makes fifteen at
present. and seven to be built. Wichita
has at present two Opara houses, but very
large one is being built, SO the needs in
that direction will soon be supplied In
1870, the mail was carried in cigar-box.
Now it has free delivery and work is be-
gun on Sl50,000 government building,
which will contain. besides the postoffice,
the headquarters Of the United States dis
trict court, which is located here The
general postoflice business foots up to about
$50. 900 for 1886.
Wichita will be great railroad center
ere long. 1t has three trunk lines-the
AtchisOn, Topeka & Santa Fee, the Missouri
Pacific, and the st. Louis g. San Francisco.
1t has also the Wichita & Western and the
Fort Scott. Besides these the following
roads have secured terminal facilities here:
the Chicago. Rock Island & Pacific, the
Chicago ST. Joseph & Fl. Worth, the
Kansas Midland, the Kansas, Colorado s.
Texas. A union depot will soon be built,
and then its railroad facilities will be- un-
riy aled.
oonlo eastern people have an idea that
It is land OF billiards and cyclones A
western gentleman told me. not long ago.
hat the only cyclone he ever saw was in
New York state. We have very strong
winds here, but very little damage is done.
You must remember that this is prairie
and and We have no Catskills to break the
'orce of the wind. But it would be hard
q conceive of more delightful climate.
We have been having May weather here,
while you have been enjoying something
7ery like billiards.. Driving in the
noticed the wheat, up two or
hree inches. and here the grass be-
rms to look very green, and clover is grow.
ng finely. Ploughing has begun in good
arrest. This is fine agricultural coun-
ry. and especially adapted for grain and |
!razing. Try to disabuse your minds of
he notion that cyclones are frequent A |
yclone has never struck Wichita, and / |
lope it never will. The climate Is de- !
ightful. My advice to eastern people is
o come west and grow up with the coun.
ry" There is chance for everyone.
'hereis. comparatively, no real poverty
ere. People are prosperous and all seem
. find employment. With the numerous
interests that are soon to
,cate here. there will be many openings.